Stats NZ consulting on well-being indicators


Mon 13 Aug 2018

Statistics New Zealand is seeking public feedback about indicators to measure success for Aotearoa New Zealand. These indicators are intended ...

Statistics New Zealand is seeking public feedback about indicators to measure success for Aotearoa New Zealand.

These indicators are intended to measure more than just economic success (e.g. Gross Domestic Product) by including wellbeing and sustainable development.

Stats NZ says "The indicators will build on international best practice and will be tailored to New Zealand by including cultural and te ao Māori perspectives."

Indicators Aotearoa New Zealand - Ngā Tūtohu Aotearoa will be used by the government, councils, businesses, communities, and individuals to make choices around wellbeing and sustainability. They will also be used in domestic and international reporting, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs include gender equality and violence prevention.

To help understand this project and give feedback, Stats NZ has produced a video, fact sheets and presentations. For more information about the project and consultation see the Stats NZ website. You can submit feedback through to the end of September.

You can have your say by:

Statistics Minister James Shaw said:

“As part of the Green Party’s Confidence and Supply Agreement with Labour, we are beginning the process of compiling a list of around 100 indicators which will make up a set of measures known as Indicators Aotearoa New Zealand or Ngā Tūtohu Aotearoa. What gets measured gets managed, and this work is part of the Government’s wider programme to make policy and measure success in ways that ensure meaningful improvements in our lives and our country. In next year’s Budget, Finance Minister Grant Robertson will ensure New Zealand’s success is not just measured by how much the economy has grown but by whether our people and our environment are better off too."

Related news

The indicators are intended to align with the Treasury's Living Standards Framework. Treasury is developing the Framework to help guide policy. Earlier this year Treasury published a series of discussion papers on wellbeing measures. More recently, Treasury commissioned a proposal for a Living Standards Dashboard related to monitoring intergenerational wellbeing.

The Government has also begun work on developing a Child Wellbeing Strategy.

The Government is currently seeking feedback on the proposed approach to "investing for social wellbeing," and a policy for the protection and use of personal information.

Update: The Treasury has published a new paper, A Pacific Perspective on The Living Standards Framework and Wellbeing.

Update: The Government will also be publishing a discussion paper on a te ao Māori perspective on the Living Standards Framework.

Update: The Treasury has published a new paper, An Asian Perspective and the New Zealand Treasury Living Standards Framework.

Update: Ara Taiohi and ActionStation have published a report on youth wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: Ngā Kōrero Hauora O Ngā Taiohi: A community-powered report on conversations with 1,000 young people (2018).

Selected media

PSA: ‘Core priority’ given to mental health for 2019 Budget, Press Release: Public Service Association, Scoop, 04.11.2018

Focus for next Budget signalled, Otago Daily Times, 03.11.2018

Mental health will be a priority in first 'Wellbeing Budget' says Finance Minister Grant Robertson, NZ Herald, 03.11.2018

Mental health priority for Wellbeing Budget 2019, Māori Television, 03.11.2018

Wellbeing budget to give mental health 'focus it deserves', Radio NZ, 03.11.2018

Wellbeing's role in government policy, Beehive Press Release, 07.09.2018

Wellbeing indicators should guide policy, BusinessDesk, Scoop, 07.09.2018

What will the Wellbeing Budget change?, Newsroom, 06.09.2018

Māori perspective encouraged in Living Standards Framework, Te Karere TVNZ, One News, 23.08.2018

Stats NZ launches well-being research, Newsroom Pro, 01.08.2018

A Greener way to measure success, Press Release: Green Party, Scoop, 31.07.2018

Ambitious programme underway to measure wellbeing, Speech: Minister James Shaw, 31.07.2018

Government seeks public input on well-being indicators, Radio NZ, 31.07.2018

Image: Pexels

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